Mechanisms for coating surfaces with liquid



Feb 14, 1967 D. s. SILVER 3,303,815

MECHANISMS FOR COATING SURFACES WITH LIQUID Filed July 27, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 D. S. SILVER Feb. 14, 1967 MECHANISMS FOR COATING SURFACES WITH LIQUID 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27, 1964 FEG.5.

Feb. 14, 1967 D. s. SILVER 3,303,815

MECHANISMS FOR COATING SURFACES WITH LIQUID Filed July 27, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 14, 1967 D. s. SILVER 3,303,815

MECHANISMS FOR COATING SURFACES WITH LIQUID Filed July 27, 1964 5 SheetsSheet 4 Feb. 14, 1967 D. s. SILVER 3,303,815

MECHANISMS FOR COATING SURFACES WITH LIQUID Filed July 27, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent Ofince F 3,363,815 Patented Feb. 14, 1967 MECHANiSlt IS FOR CGATHNG SURFACES WITH LIQUID Dennis Stanley Sliver, London, England, assignor to Purdy Machinery Company Limited, London, England Filed .luiy 27, 1964, Ser. No. 385,417 Ciaims priority, appiicatian Great Britain, Aug. 2, 1963, 36,818/ 63 6 Claims. (Ci. 118-262) This invention relates to mechanism for coating travelling surfaces with liquid, and the invention is primarily concerned with the coating of labels with adhesive in labelling machines. The term adhesive may be regarded as being broad enough to cover a mere moistening agent for labels already bearing a dry adhesive.

An object of the invention is to provide adhesive applying mechanism that can easily be made ready for use before the operation of a labelling machine, as a whole, is started. A further object is to provide means whereby adhesive can be applied to labels at a high rate, as is required in a labelling machine operating at a comparatively high rate. A further object is to provide mechanism for applying adhesive that can immediately be disabled when no labels are presented thereto.

According to the invention, mechanism for coating a travelling surface with liquid includes a transfer roller for transferring the liquid to the surface, means including a pump for delivering the liquid to the roller and coating the roller surface with the liquid, and driving means for the roller and pump comprising two inputs, each including a unidirectional clutch, the first arranged to drive the roller and pump when the second is idle and the second arranged to drive the roller and pump when the first is idle. The means for delivering the liquid to the transfer roller and coating the roller surface with the liquid may include a carrier roller that rotates in contact with the transfer roller and receives the liquid from the pump, means being provided for spreading the liquid over the curved surface of the carrier roller. The contact between the carrier roller and the adhesive roller is, of course, in practice by way of the thin layer of adhesive betwien these two rollers. The means for spreading the liquid on the carrier roller may comprise a spreader roller, means being provided for adjusting the separation between the spreader roller and the carrier roller.

Very advantageously the pump is a screw pump and this pump, as well as the carrier roller and the transfer roller, are arranged to be driven by either one of the aforesaid inputs, whichever is actuated at the higher speed. The unidirectional clutch in each of these drives is of the nature of the free-wheel drive in a bicycle and may be any one of a variety of unidirectional clutches that are available.

To avoid fouling portions of a labelling machine when the supply of labels suddenly ceases for any reason, means may be provided for automatically withdrawing the transfer roller without interrupting the operation of the mechanism, means being provided for enabling surplus liquid from the transfer roller to be recirculated.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, apparatus in accordance therewith will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan of a bottle labelling machine, showing the location therein of mechanism for applying adhesive to the labels,

FIGURE 2 is a plan of the adhesive applying mechanism,

FIGURES 3 and 4 are elevations showing opposite sides of the mechanism of FIGURE 2, FIGURE 3 being shown partly in section,

FIGURE 5 is an elevation of a detail, and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional elevation of mechanism for driving the adhesive applying mechanism of FIGURES 2 to 5.

The machine shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 1, with many details omitted therefrom, includes a drum 1 which rotates uniformly during the operation of the machine. Picker mechanism (not shown) applies body and neck labels at each of five positions distributed equidistantly about the drum, the labels being retained at these positions by suction applied at the drum surface. The body and neck labels are withdrawn respectively from stationary magazines, such as those indicated by chain lines 2, 3. The picker mechanism is as described in the specification of my US. patent application Serial No. 376,961, and each magazine is constructed according to the specification of my US. patent application Serial No. 376,963. The labels are carried by the drum 1 past mechanism M which applies adhesive to the exposed faces of the labels. The bottles to be labelled are fed along a straight track, in the direction of the arrow A, by an endless conveyor 4 and a scroll 5 to a position B at which they engage the drum and receive the labels therefrom, the labels being transferred from the drum 1 to the bottles by mechanism described in the specification of U.S. patent application Serial No. 383,642. The mechanism M will now be described in detail with reference to FIGURES 2 to 6.

The adhesive such as gum is poured, as required, into a cast sump 6, formed at its upper edge with a flange 7 which lies just above the top cover of the machine. The rotary drum 1 lies above this top cover. The sump 6 is formed also at the top with a cantilever arm 8 braced by a web The arm 8 is formed on its upper surface with an inclined recess or trough g arranged so that surplus adhesive that flows off a carrier or adhesive roller 10, a spreader roller 11 and a transfer roller 12, flows back into the sump 6. The flange 7 is continued round the trough 9.

A tube 13 projects upwards from a socket 14 at the bottom of the sump 6, the socket and tube being formed with apertures 15 through which the adhesive can flow into the tube 13. A vertical shaft 16 projects upwards through the bottom of the sump 6, through a sealing ring 17, into the tube 13 where the shaft 16 is formed with a helix 18 having its outer edge bearing on the inner surface of the tube 13. The tube 13 is closed by a cap 19, and just above the helix 18, the tube 13 is formed with a port leading into a pipe 20. Thus a screw pump is provided, in that rotation of the shaft 16 in the appropriate direction causes the helix 18 to raise the adhesive up the tube 13 and force it up the pipe 20. A short helix 21, which is arranged to feed downwards while the helix 18 is feeding the adhesive upwards, prevents the adhesive from being forced out between the cap 19 and the tube 13.

The pipe 20 has its upper end supported by a flange 22 forming part of a baffle member 23 carried by an arm 24 above the adhesive roller 10. As shown in FIGURES 2, 3, the outlet end of the pipe 20 lies just outside the periphery of the carrier or adhesive roller 10, as viewed from above, and slightly above the carrier roller 10, as viewed from the side. Thus the adhesive flows down the carrier roller 10 from top to bottom thereof. The carrier roller 10 rotates in the direction of the arrow X (FIG- URE 2), so that the adhesive is spread smoothly over the surface of the carrier roller 10 by the spreader roller 11 which rolls on the carrier roller as thelatter rotates, forming a fillet of adhesive between these two rollers. Any adhesive that finds its way from the pipe 20 to the top 89 surface of the carrier roller is prevented from spreading over the top by fianges 25, 26 forming part of the bafile member 23, such adhesive being discharged between the flanges 22, 25.

The gum is applied by the carrier roller 10 to the transfer roller 12, which transfers the gum to the labels and which, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, is divided into three sections 12a, 12b, 120 for applying the adhesive respectively to a neck label and two body labels carried in vertical alignment on the drum 1. Each of the three sections of the transfer roller 12 makes line contact with the carrier roller 10. Moreover, both these rollers are positively driven by mechanism described below at speeds such that there is no rubbing between the surfaces of the two rollers. Similarly, the peripheral speed of the transfer roller 12 is the same as that of the labels about the drum axis so that again there is no sliding or rubbing contact. The labels being carried past the transfer roller 12 by the drum 1 stand slightly proud of the main drum surface on pads which are resilient. Peel-off fingers 26a are fixed to a vertical rod 27 so as to project into grooves 28 in the transfer roller 12. These fingers 26a enter the grooves 28 just beyond the vertical line on which the transfer roller 12 engages the labels, thereby avoiding any risk of the labels being drawn away from the drum 1 by the transfer roller 12.

The carrier roller 10 is carried by a vertical shaft 29 that projects upwards through a bush 30 at the bottom of the trough 9. The roller 10 consists of a cylindrical sleeve carried by discs 31, 32, through which the shaft 29 projects and to which these discs are fixed. The disc 32 rests on a thrust bearing washer 33 which in turn, rests on a member 34 pivoted on the shaft 29 and resting on a thrust bearing washer 35 on the bush. A portion 36 of the roller sleeve projects below the disc 32 to provide a space 37 in which air is trapped in the event of serious flooding by the adhesive, thereby protecting the washer 33. A skirt 38 is provided on the member 34 to. protect the washer 35 in the same way, in the event of the adhesive rising to a high level in the sump.

The top end of the shaft 29 (FIGURE 3) projects through a member 39 which is pivoted on the shaft 29 and rests on a washer 40 supported by the disc 31. Above the member 39 the shaft 29 enters on arm 41 in which the shaft 29 is free to rotate, a washer 42 being interposed between the arm 41 and the member 39. The arm 41 provides a support for the top end of the carrier roller 10, the arm 41 being mounted on a pillar 43 extending upwards from the sump casting as shown in FIGURE 4. The arm 41 is made in two parts 41a, 4112 (FIGURE 2) connected by a bolt and slot connection to enable the length of the arm 41 to be adjusted. The bolt 44 in this connection passes through the slot 45 to receive a nut which also holds the arm 24 in position.

The spreader roller 11 is adjustable to provide the required layer of adhesive on the carrier roller 10. For this purpose, the spreader roller 11 is carried by a cental shaft 47 journalled at its upper and lower ends in arms 48, 49 pivotally mounted on the pillar 43 (FIGURE 4). The arms 48, 49 have extensions 50, 51 connected by rods 52, 53 with a swivelling abutment member 54 mounted between them. A rod 55 is fixed to the member 54 and extends through a compression spring 46 and through a bush 56 mounted to swivel between arms 57, 57a, on a member 58 fixed to the pillar 43. The rod 55 is formed with a screw thread on which is screwed a hand wheel 59. The spring 46 maintains the wheel 59 in contact with the swivelling bush 56, so that by turning the hand wheel in the appropriate direction the spreader roller 11 can be caused to approach or recede from the carrier roller 10.

It will be appreciated that, when there is any absence of labels on the drum 1, as when the machine is being started, tested, or for any other reason, it is necessary for the transfer roller 12 to be withdrawn from the drum 1 to avoid application of adhesive to the drum. The absence of labels may be detected by sensing means, such as an optical detecting device located between the magazines 2, 3 and the mechanism M (FIGURE 1). In the absence of labels, such means are arranged to cause a solenoid 6t) (FIGURES 2, 5) to be de-energized so as to cause the transfer roller 12 to be swung through a small angle about the axis of the carrier roller 10 and away from the drum surface by the action of a spring. For this purpose the transfer roller 12 is carried by the members 34, 39, that can swing about the adhesive roller shaft 29. Thus, the three sections 12a, 12b, 120 of the transfer roller are fixed to a vertical shaft 61 which passes with some clearance through an upstanding collar 62 (FIGURE 3) in the trough 9. Just above the collar 62, the shaft 61 is journalled in an arm 63 which is fixed by means of a bolt 64 to a lug 65 on the member 34, the bolt passing through an enlarged hole 66 in the lug 65 to provide for adjustment. Similarly the top of the shaft 61 is journalled in an arm 67 fixed to an extension 68 on the member 39 by means of a bolt 69 passing through a slot 70 and carrying a nut. The arms 63, 67 are connected by the rod 27 which is fixed to both arms. For further strength the arms 63, 67 are connected by a rod 71, which is also fixed to both arms. As shown in FIG- URE 3, the rod 27 extends with substantial clearance through an aperture 72 at the outer end of the cantilever arm 8. Below the trough the rod 27 is connected, as shown in FIGURE 5, to the core of the solenoid 60. Therefore, when the solenoid 60 is de-energized, the two assemblies respectively comprising the arm 63 with the member 34 and the arm 67 with the member 39 are moved so as to carry the transfer roller 12 away from the drum 1 by a small amount.

The outer end of the arm 63 rests on a thrust bearing washer 73 that closes the aperture 72. A cavity 74 between the arm 63 and the arm 8 provides an air trap preventing the adhesive from leaking past the washer 73 and through the aperture 72, if the adhesive rises very high in the sump. Similarly an annular cavity 75 is provided between the collar 62 and the arm 63 to protect a thrust bearing Washer 76 interposed between the arm 63 and the top of the collar 62. The lowermost section 12c of the transfer roller 12 rests on the arm 63 with an interposed thrust bearing washer 77, a skirt 78 being provided to furnish an air trap in the event of flooding.

It is necessary for the mechanism M to begin to operate before the machine starts to apply labels to bottles, so that the adhesive roller 19 is properly wetted before the first labels arrive to receive the adhesive. For this purpose the mechanism of FIGURE 6 is provided. This comprises a gear box having two input shafts 79, 80. The shaft 79 is connected by means (not shown) to the main driving motor of the machine so as to drive the adhesive applying mechanism during the normal functioning of the machine. The shaft 80 is connected to an auxiliary electric motor (not shown) for running the adhesive mechanism before the machine as a whole starts operating.

The shaft 81 is connected, through a unidirectional clutch 81, to a shaft 82 splined to a spur gear 83 in mesh with an intermediate pinion 84 that drives a spur gear 85 splined to a shaft 86 connected by a sleeve 87 to the shaft 16 of the screw pump. The shaft 86 is also splined to a gear 88 in mesh with a gear 89 fixed to a gear 90 splined to a shaft 91 connected by a sleeve 92 to the shaft 29 of the carrier roller 10. The driving shaft 79 is co-axial with the shaft 91 and connected thereto through a unidirectional clutch 93 which allows the adhesive roller to be driven as aforesaid while the shaft 79 is idle. The shaft 61 of the transfer roller 12 is connected through a coupling, comprising two universal joints 9-4, 95, to a shaft 96 splined to a spur gear 97 in mesh with the gear 99. Thus, the transfer roller is also driven during this preliminary running up of the adhesive mechanism.

When the machine motor is started to begin the actual labelling operation, the shaft 79 begins to rotate at a higher speed than the shaft 80 driven by the auxiliary motor. Therefore, the shaft 79 takes over the drive of the gear train described above and the unidirectional clutch S1 over-runs the shaft 80 which, although still being driven, ceases to drive. The auxiliary motor is stopped as soon as the normal operation of the machine is under way.

The auxiliary electric motor (not shown) is a twospeed motor in that it is capable of being run at a higher speed than that used in the starting process described above. At the end of a days run the higher speed is used for causing the mechanism to pump water from the sump so as to cleanse the pump and rollers 16, 11, 12 of any abrasives that may have accumulated.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for coating a travelling surface with liquid including, in combination, a transfer roller mounted to rotate about its axis, a coating means for coating said transfer roller with a liquid, said coating means including a pump, said transfer roller having a driving connec tion, said pump having a driving connection, a gear train permanently interconnecting said driving connections, a main drive shaft for driving said gear train, a unidirectional clutch interposed between said main drive shaft and gear train, an auxiliary drive shaft for driving said gear train, and a second unidirectional clutch interposed between said auxiliary drive shaft and said gear train, whereby said transfer roller and said pump may be driven by either one of said shafts, whichever is actuated at the higher speed.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the said coating means include a carrier roller arranged to rotate in contact With said transfer roller, spreading means for spreading the liquid over the surface of said carrier roller, said coating means further including a means for conveying the liquid from said pump to said carrier roller, and a driving connection between the said carrier roller and the said gear train, so that the gear train will drive the carrier roller when it drives the transfer roller and the pump.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the said spreading means includes a spreader roller and means for adjusting the distance between the spreader roller and the carrier roller.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the said carrier roller, transfer roller and spreader roller are mounted with their axes vertical, and the said means for conveying the liquid is arranged to deliver the liquid to the top of the said carrier rollers so that the liquid flows down the said carrier roller.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2 including a means for withdrawing said transfer roller from the travelling surface.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the said means for withdrawing is arranged to carry the transfer roller about the axis of the said carrier roller when withdrawing the said transfer roller from the travelling surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,094,112 9/1937 Wiliis ll8210 X 2,657,664 11/1953 Holstebroe et al 118220 2,905,141 9/1959 Young 118-262 X 2,991,753 7/ 1961 Dearsley 118-262 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

L. G. MACHLIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR COATING A TRAVELLING SURFACE WITH LIQUID INCLUDING, IN COMBINATION, A TRANSFER ROLLER MOUNTED TO ROTATE ABOUT ITS AXIS, A COATING MEANS FOR COATING SAID TRANSFER ROLLER WITH A LIQUID, SAID COATING MEANS INCLUDING A PUMP, SAID TRANSFER ROLLER HAVING A DRIVING CONNECTION, SAID PUMP HAVING A DRIVING CONNECTION, A GEAR TRAIN PERMANENTLY INTERCONNECTING SAID DRIVING CONNECTIONS, A MAIN DRIVE SHAFT FOR DRIVING SAID GEAR TRAIN, A UNIDIRECTIONAL CLUTCH INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID MAIN DRIVE SHAFT AND GEAR TRAIN, AN AUXILIARY DRIVE SHAFT FOR DRIVING SAID 